Crested Butte building permits

Requirements

• BOZAR approval (Development Permit Application) REQUIRED before a building permit application may be submitted (Town Code Sec. 18-13-10(b), 18-13-40(b)/(d)) — a narrow foundation-only early-start exception exists under specific conditions
• Engineering plans for single/two-family residences must be prepared by a Colorado-registered or licensed design professional and signed/stamped with a seal (Town Code Sec. 18-13-20(a)(15))
• Must meet Table R301.2 design criteria: 100 lbs/sq ft flat roof snow load, 115 mph wind design speed (Exposure/topographic effects: none), Seismic Design Category C, 36-inch minimum frost line depth, mandatory roof ice barrier underlayment, -16 F winter design temperature, 8,921 ft Manual J elevation
• All-electric building: no combustion equipment for space heating, water heating, or cooking appliances (exception: EPA Phase 2 qualified solid fuel-burning devices per Article 8)
• New residential construction must achieve DOE Zero Energy Ready Home (ZERH) certification
• One EV-Ready parking space per dwelling unit (208/240V, 30A receptacle, labeled 'Electric Vehicle Charging' branch circuit)
• Single-family dwellings are exempt from automatic fire sprinkler requirements; shared-wall units (duplex/triplex/quadplex/multifamily) must meet IFC Chapter 9 / IRC P2904 sprinkler provisions
• If located within a mapped Class 1 or Class 2 Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code fire hazard area (confirm via the State Wildfire Resiliency Map Viewer), must meet CWRC structure-hardening requirements: Class A metal roof covering, No. 26 gage galvanized valley flashing, noncombustible gutters/vents, fire-resistance-rated exterior walls
• Current Gunnison County building contractor license required for all contractors on the permit (Town Code Sec. 18-13-40(e), in effect since February 1, 2023)
• Complete Sec. 18-13-20 submittal package: legal description, deed, plot plan, elevations, floor plan, site development plan, front elevation showing site context, contour depiction if grade varies more than 2 vertical feet
• Valuation determined via ICC minimum valuation table x 2.70 regional modifier, or other evidence of value, whichever is greater

Required documents

• RequiredBOZAR Development Permit ApplicationMust be approved before the building permit application is submitted
• RequiredBuilding Permit ApplicationSubmitted to the Building Department; requires Sec. 18-13-20 submittal package
• RequiredMaterials List Form - Primary StructureRequired for construction on a new or existing primary building; referenced during inspections
• RequiredGunnison County Building Contractor License
• RequiredEENH/ZERH Certification DocumentationHERS rater engagement, EENH Partner and Energy Star Partner registration required before permit issuance
• OptionalStatement of Authority FormRequired if the property is owned by an LLC or other entity
• OptionalLimited Power of AttorneyRequired if the applicant is not the property owner

Fee schedule

Requirements

• BOZAR Development Permit Application approval required before submitting the building permit application for any project with exterior changes, additions, or historic rehabilitation
• All residential remodels must adhere to the 2024 International Existing Building Code (IEBC)
• Level 3 alterations (more than 50% of work area renovated, per the floor-plan-based work-area definition) additionally require: EV-Ready parking space per dwelling unit; Electric Ready gas-appliance circuit/panel provisions if gas equipment is retained; Solar Ready zone per the Colorado Model Electric Ready and Solar Ready Code
• Historic buildings undergoing a Level 3 alteration must meet the 2024 IECC without damaging the existing historic structure, and require both BOZAR and Building Official oversight
• Optional Home Energy Assessment subsidy available from the Town for Level 3 remodels
• If the addition increases footprint by 500 sq ft or more, or replaces more than 25% of exterior siding/roof covering, and the parcel falls within a mapped Class 1/Class 2 CWRC fire hazard area, full Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code structure-hardening compliance is triggered for the affected assemblies
• Current Gunnison County building contractor license required for all contractors on the permit
• Materials List Form (Primary or Accessory Structure) required, referenced during inspections

Required documents

• RequiredBOZAR Development Permit ApplicationRequired for exterior changes, additions, and historic rehabilitation projects
• RequiredBuilding Permit Application
• RequiredMaterials List Form (Primary or Accessory Structure)
• RequiredGunnison County Building Contractor License

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Governed by the 2023 NEC as adopted, with no local amendments (Town Code Sec. 18-5-30: 'The code adopted herein is modified by the following amendments: None.')
• Current Gunnison County building contractor license required
• Fees billed under the same valuation-based Building Permit fee table as building permits; no separate electrical-specific fee line item found in the 2026 Fee Schedule
• Inspection requests must be submitted at least 5 working days in advance (adopted IFC Sec. 108.2.1)

Required documents

• RequiredElectrical Permit ApplicationReferences the associated building permit if applicable
• RequiredGunnison County Building Contractor License

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Governed by the 2023 NEC as adopted, with no local amendments (Town Code Sec. 18-5-30: 'The code adopted herein is modified by the following amendments: None'), including NEC Article 625 (Electric Vehicle Power Transfer System)
• For NEW residential construction and Level 3 alterations (more than 50% of work area renovated), a labeled 'Electric Vehicle Charging' branch circuit with a 208/240V, 30A receptacle in the garage or within 6 feet of the driveway is already a mandatory requirement of the underlying Building/Electrical Permit -- see this file's residential-building-permit and residential-addition-remodel entries
• For a STANDALONE EV charger retrofit to an existing home not otherwise triggering a Level 3 alteration, a standard Electrical Permit is required for the new circuit/charger installation
• Current Gunnison County building contractor license required for contractor-performed work
• Fees billed under the same valuation-based Building Permit fee table as other electrical work; no separate EV-charger-specific fee line item found in the 2026 Fee Schedule
• Inspection requests must be submitted at least 5 working days in advance (adopted IFC Sec. 108.2.1)

Required documents

• RequiredElectrical Permit ApplicationSame form used for any electrical work, including a standalone EV charger installation; references the associated building permit if applicable
• OptionalGunnison County Building Contractor License

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Governed by the 2021 IPC (Appendices C and E) as locally adopted
• Combined Plumbing and Mechanical Permit Application used for scopes including replacement of existing water heaters, gas fireplaces, heat recovery ventilation systems, and kitchen hoods — applicants are directed to consult the Building Inspector to confirm the correct application for their project
• Current Gunnison County building contractor license required
• Inspection requests must be submitted at least 5 working days in advance

Required documents

• RequiredPlumbing and Mechanical Permit ApplicationCombined application form used for plumbing and mechanical scopes
• RequiredGunnison County Building Contractor License

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Governed by the 2021 IMC (Appendix A) as locally adopted
• Gas-fired equipment governed by the 2021 IFGC as locally amended: all installed fuel gas burning appliances must be high-efficiency direct-vent appliances with sealed combustion (Town Code Sec. 18-7-30(3)); several standard IFGC combustion-air provisions (Sections 304.2, 304.3, 304.5-304.8) are deleted in favor of manufacturer installation instructions
• Combined Plumbing and Mechanical Permit Application used for common scopes including gas fireplaces, heat recovery ventilation systems, and kitchen exhaust hoods
• Boiler/Compressor/Absorption System and Mechanical Exhaust Hood have their own flat fee line items in the 2026 Fee Schedule
• Current Gunnison County building contractor license required

Required documents

• RequiredPlumbing and Mechanical Permit Application
• RequiredGunnison County Building Contractor License

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Roof Ice Barrier Underlayment Required: Yes, per Table R301.2 (Town Code Sec. 18-2-30(3))
• If the parcel is within a mapped CWRC Class 1 or Class 2 fire hazard zone and the project replaces more than 25% of the existing roof covering, the ENTIRE roof must meet CWRC structure-hardening requirements: Class A roof covering (metal only — slate and concrete tile are currently not allowed per the Town's Design Standards and Guidelines), No. 26 gage galvanized valley flashing over 36-inch minimum underlayment, noncombustible gutters/downspouts with leaf guards, fire-resistance-rated or noncombustible fascia/soffit materials, and noncombustible ember-resistant vent mesh (1/8-1/16 inch)
• BOZAR/Design Review Committee approval is required for exterior roofing material changes since Crested Butte is a National Historic District town; consult the Design Guidelines by zone
• Current Gunnison County building contractor license required
• Inspection requests must be submitted at least 5 working days in advance

Required documents

• RequiredBuilding Permit Application — Roofing scope
• RequiredBOZAR Development Permit ApplicationRequired for visible/exterior roofing material or design changes
• RequiredGunnison County Building Contractor License

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Use the Town's Solar Permit Application specifically for solar-only projects
• Submittal must include drawings showing solar panel locations, solar specifications including required emergency shut-off and electrical code compliance, and a structural engineer stamped letter confirming the existing roof will remain structurally sound
• Per Town Code Sec. 18-9-100(3)(b), if a proposed renewable energy system used to offset outdoor energy usage (REMP) is solar in nature, the panels/collectors must be approved through the standard building permit process AND approved by the Board (BOZAR)
• Current Gunnison County building contractor license required
• Governed by the 2023 NEC (electrical) and applicable structural provisions of the 2024 IBC/IRC

Required documents

• RequiredSolar Permit Application
• RequiredStructural Engineer Stamped LetterConfirms existing roof will remain structurally sound
• RequiredGunnison County Building Contractor License

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Use the Building Relocation and Demolition Permit Application for any proposal to demolish or relocate a primary or accessory structure larger than 200 sq ft
• Reviewed by BOZAR (the Town's own Demolition FAQ sheet provides additional guidance)
• Structures 200 sq ft or smaller are not subject to this permit track per the Town's own application scope language
• Historic structures may be eligible for a variance under CWRC Section 102.9 if a required upgrade would jeopardize continued historic designation, but this is a separate CWRC provision, not a demolition-permit exemption

Required documents

• RequiredBuilding Relocation and Demolition Permit Application
• OptionalDemolition FAQ SheetTown-published guidance document for this application

Fee schedule

Requirements

• BOZAR (Board of Zoning and Architectural Review) approval of a Development Permit Application is required before a building permit application may be submitted (Town Code Sec. 18-13-40(d); BOZAR page: 'you must receive BOZAR approval before applying for building permits') — BOZAR, not a separately named 'Historic Preservation Commission', is the body that administers historic-district design review in Crested Butte
• Automatic 'special review' BOZAR classification for any building permit in a B1, B2 or B3 Business District (Town Code Sec. 16-22-110(b)) — special review applications pay an additional $750 fee and their public notice must include a published three-dimensional perspective drawing showing the building's facade and relationship to neighboring structures plus a location map
• All construction documents for commercial projects must be prepared by Colorado registered or licensed design professionals and signed and stamped with a seal (Town Code Sec. 18-13-20(a)(16))
• New commercial buildings must be All Electric Buildings — no combustion equipment for space heating, water heating, or clothes drying; Commercial Food Heat-processing Equipment is exempt from the electrification mandate (IBC Sec. 1301.1.2 as amended by Town Code Sec. 18-1-30; All Electric Building definition, Town Code Chapter 18)
• EV parking for new commercial: buildings/accessory structures with 2+ parking spaces must provide one Level II EVSE; 10% of total required spaces (rounded up) must be Electric Vehicle Ready; one 25 kW DC Fast Charger required where 5 or more parking spaces are required (IBC Sec. 1301.1.3 as amended)
• Solar for new commercial: buildings under 5,000 sq ft must install Solar Ready Components; buildings 5,000 sq ft or larger must install rooftop solar PV per Town Code Sec. 18-1.5-30(5), capped at Gunnison County Electric Association net-metering limits (IBC Sec. 1301.1.4 as amended; Town Code Sec. 18-9-50)
• New commercial construction must comply with the Town's adopted International Green Construction Code sections (Town Code Article 1.5): stormwater management, building water use reduction, appliance/HVAC efficiency, commercial food service operations, hot water distribution, on-site renewable energy systems, and kitchen exhaust systems
• Alterations, repairs, additions and changes of occupancy of existing commercial buildings are governed by the 2021 IEBC (Town Code Article 2.5; IECC Chapter 5 [CE] as replaced); commercial Level 3 alterations must additionally be Electric Ready, install Solar Ready Components (under 5,000 sq ft) or rooftop PV (5,000+ sq ft), and provide Level II EVSE plus 10% EV-Ready spaces where the building has 2+ parking spaces (IEBC Secs. 907.2-907.3 as amended)
• Current Gunnison County building contractor license required — no permit issued since February 1, 2023 without one (Town Code Sec. 18-13-40(e))
• Complete Sec. 18-13-20 submittal package: legal description, deed, plot plan, elevations, floor plans, site development plan (paving, walls/fences, landscaping, exterior lighting), front elevation showing site context, and cross-sections
• Valuation set by the Building Official from the ICC building valuation data table multiplied by a 2.70 regional modifier, or other evidence of value, whichever is greater (Town Code Sec. 18-13-40(b))
• If the parcel falls in a mapped Class 1 or Class 2 Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code fire hazard area, CWRC structure-hardening applies to new commercial structures, changes of use, additions increasing footprint 500+ sq ft, and replacement of more than 25% of exterior siding or roof covering (Town Code Article 6.5; Town enforcement begins June 1, 2026)
• Certificate of occupancy required before any structure or altered portion may be rented, occupied or used (Town Code Sec. 18-13-70)
• Construction must commence within 180 days of permit issuance; the permit expires one year after issuance with a single 6-month renewal available for good cause (Building Permit Contract Agreement; Town Code Sec. 18-13-60)

Required documents

• RequiredBOZAR Development Permit ApplicationMust be approved before the building permit application is submitted; commercial-district (B1/B2/B3) applications are automatically classified special review
• RequiredBuilding Permit ApplicationThe Town's single building permit form (Town of Crested Butte Building Department, PO Box 39) covering all use types — includes USE TYPE, OCCUPANCY, materials/labor valuation, and FAR fields; no separate commercial or tenant-improvement application exists
• RequiredSealed commercial construction documentsAll construction documents for commercial projects must be prepared, signed and seal-stamped by Colorado registered or licensed design professionals (Town Code Sec. 18-13-20(a)(16))
• RequiredGunnison County Building Contractor LicenseCounty-level contractor license required on every permit since February 1, 2023
• RequiredMaterials List Form - Primary StructureRequired for construction on a new or existing primary building; referenced during building inspections
• OptionalStatement of Authority FormRequired if the property is owned by an LLC or other legal entity
• OptionalLimited Power of AttorneyRequired as part of both the BOZAR and building permit applications if the applicant is not the property owner
• OptionalPretreatment Application (Fats, Oils & Grease)Required for food-service tenant improvements discharging grease to the Town sewer; $48.50 application fee per the 2026 Fee Schedule

Fee schedule

Requirements

• No sign shall be erected, constructed, altered, remodeled or changed until a permit is issued by BOTH the Building Inspector and the Board (BOZAR) — Town Code Sec. 16-18-10(a)
• Exempt from the permit requirement (Sec. 16-18-10(b)): historic markers on buildings for 40+ consecutive years as of July 31, 2012 conveying only historic use, residential identification signs, real estate sale/rent signs, construction/remodeling signs, institutional identification signs, and transient-merchant signs — none of these count toward a property's allowable sign total either
• Also permit-free: one open/closed sign per business up to 2 sq ft, one business-hours sign up to 2 sq ft (Sec. 16-18-20(2)(a)-(b)), and signs/pictures/posters within 5 feet of the inside of windows, provided they are not internally lit/neon, moving, 'Day-Glo,' flashing, or redundant as to subject matter (Sec. 16-18-20(16))
• Beyond the exemptions, each business may generally have up to 2 additional permitted signs, plus a third permitted alley-facing sign (max 6 sq ft, wall-mounted only, not visible from a numbered street) — Sec. 16-18-20(2)(c), (e)
• No internally lit, neon, phosphorescent, flashing, animated, or moving-part signs, except one narrow wooden-framed glass-door box (max 4 sq ft) that may be internally lit with shielded white incandescent light (Sec. 16-18-20(8), (18))
• Aggregate sign area cap (Sec. 16-18-50): buildings with an 800+ sq ft front facade may have up to 100 sq ft of signage in aggregate; buildings under 800 sq ft are capped at 1/8 of the front facade area; no single sign may exceed 32 sq ft; variances are NOT allowed for sign measurements
• Structural limits (Sec. 16-18-40): freestanding signs limited to one per building/parcel, no taller than 12 feet above grade; tallest individual letter may not exceed 18 inches; wall signs may not project more than 6 inches from the building wall
• Off-site signs (advertising a business not located at the sign's location) are permitted only adjacent to Elk Avenue in Blocks 19-23 and 26-30 of the B-1, B-3, and B-4 Business Districts, within 266 linear feet of Elk Avenue frontage, subject to uniform dimension limits (Sec. 16-18-20(24))
• A sign permit may be issued concurrently with, and without a separate application or fee from, a building permit if the Board considers the sign at the same time it considers the architectural appropriateness of the building (Sec. 16-18-70)
• The Building Inspector and the Chair of the Board may jointly designate a complete, code-compliant sign application as 'insubstantial' if it will have little or no visible impact on the surrounding neighborhood — this waives full Board approval, subject to the Building Inspector reporting the designation to the Board at its next meeting (Sec. 16-18-100)
• The Board may waive all or part of the sign permit fee for good cause shown or to promote substantial justice (Sec. 16-18-80)
• In flux: the Town's Draft Chapter 16 Zoning Code rewrite (discussed at BOZAR through mid-2026, per Crested Butte News reporting, with council giving unofficial approval to a final draft on June 15, 2026 before it returned to BOZAR and Council) is understood to touch sign code, lighting, and FAR provisions — the live Municode Article 18 text used for this entry is current only through Ordinance No. 5, Series 2026 (adopted March 16, 2026) and shows no post-rewrite amendment as of the last verification; confirm current requirements directly with Planning before finalizing a design

Required documents

• RequiredSign Permit Application (Town of Crested Butte Building Department form)Records applicant, sign type, size, and fee; includes space to draw or attach a rendering of the proposed sign
• RequiredScaled Drawing or Rendering of Proposed SignMust show location, dimensions, materials, colors, mounting, and wording

Fee schedule

Requirements

• CBFPD plan review approval is required BEFORE the Town's Building Department will issue a building permit for new construction or alterations — per CBFPD's own published Plan Submittal Process flowchart: proponent submits plans to CBFPD, CBFPD invoices and performs its plan review, CBFPD sends an approval letter to the applicant AND copies the appropriate Town building department, and only then does the building department issue the Building Permit
• Governed by the 2024 International Fire Code as adopted by Town Code Sec. 18-6-10 (Ord. No. 9, Series 2025, effective September 15, 2025), locally amended: IFC Sec. 507.1 requires an approved monitored fire suppression system throughout any occupancy or structure wherever the water supply cannot provide the required fire flow, EXCEPT Occupancy R-3 single-family dwellings (Town Code Sec. 18-6-20(5))
• This water-supply-based trigger operates independently of, and in addition to, the fire-area-based sprinkler triggers already documented in this file's residential- and commercial-building-permit entries (single-family dwellings exempt from IRC R313.2 sprinklers under Sec. 18-2-30(6); shared-wall units — duplex/triplex/quadplex/multifamily — must meet IFC Chapter 9/IRC P2904) — an otherwise-exempt building can still be required to sprinkler if the site's available fire flow is inadequate
• CBFPD's Plan Review & Fee Schedule (effective 4/1/2022) bundles plan review and inspection for automatic fire suppression systems and/or monitored fire alarm systems, if required, into its single gross-floor-area-based 'New Construction and Alterations' fee (Section 1001.A) — there is no separate CBFPD fee line specifically for sprinkler heads or alarm devices, unlike the itemized per-head fee structures documented at peer jurisdictions in this corpus
• Monitored fire suppression/alarm systems require the contractor to obtain a State of Colorado 'Electrical Rough-in' inspection BEFORE CBFPD will schedule its own corresponding 'Rough-in' inspection, and a State of Colorado 'Electrical Final' inspection BEFORE CBFPD will schedule its 'Fire Final' inspection
• CBFPD will not schedule a Fire Final inspection until the project's construction is complete and 'move-in ready'
• A Pre-Application Meeting with CBFPD is available on request to help ensure a complete plan submittal before formal review begins
• Inspection requests under the Town's own adopted Fire Code (as distinct from CBFPD's development plan review process) must be submitted at least 5 working days in advance (IFC Sec. 104.7.2.1 as amended, Town Code Sec. 18-6-20(4))
• Distinct from the Town's own flat Capital Expansion Fee — Fire ($388.79 per residential dwelling unit for new construction; $0.14 per sq ft for business/commercial/tourist uses), which is collected by the Town itself as part of the standard Building Permit fee package (per this file's residential- and commercial-building-permit entries) and is separate from, and in addition to, CBFPD's own independently invoiced plan review and impact fees
• No numeric plan-review-timeline SLA is published anywhere on CBFPD's Application & Plan Review page, its Fee Schedule, or its Builders Packet

Required documents

• RequiredCBFPD Plan Review Application (submitted via cbfpd.org)Covers new construction and alterations generally, including any automatic fire suppression and/or monitored fire alarm system scope
• RequiredComplete Set of Plans
• RequiredAccess Plans (Driveway) and Utilities Location
• OptionalPre-Application Meeting RequestOptional, available on request to ensure a complete submittal
• OptionalState of Colorado Electrical Rough-in / Electrical Final Inspection RecordsRequired for monitored systems before CBFPD will schedule its corresponding Rough-in or Fire Final inspection

Fee schedule

Requirements

• No standalone 'change of use permit' application exists; a change of use is processed through the Town's single Building Permit application under Town Code Sec. 18-13-40(a), which requires a permit before a structure is 'erected, constructed, structurally altered, moved, demolished or changed'
• The Town's own issued-permit reports classify these projects as 'Commercial Change of Use,' distinct from but processed alongside 'Alteration Level 1 Commercial' and 'Alteration Level 2 Commercial' within the same BLD permit tracking series — confirmed via a real issued example (BLD2026-00008, 129 Elk Ave, Pinnacle Inc., received 02/04/2026, issued 02/06/2026, $342,000 valuation)
• Any building permit located in the B1, B2, or B3 Business Districts is automatically classified 'special review' at BOZAR (Town Code Sec. 16-22-110(b)), applying the same $750 surcharge and published 3-D perspective drawing requirement documented in this file's commercial-building-permit entry to a change of use in the historic downtown core exactly as it would to new construction or alteration
• The Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code (Town Code Article 6.5) explicitly lists 'changes of use' among its enumerated triggers, alongside new construction, moved structures, additions increasing footprint 500+ sq ft, and replacement of more than 25% of exterior siding or roof covering — a change of use inside a mapped Class 1/Class 2 CWRC fire hazard zone can trigger structure-hardening compliance once Town enforcement begins June 1, 2026
• Interior-only changes of use judged 'insubstantial' by the Building Inspector and a designated BOZAR member (evaluated on street visibility, extent of change relative to the structure, and neighborhood effect, per Town Code Sec. 16-1-20/16-22-100(a)) can skip the full BOZAR hearing and public notice, paying only the $120 Insubstantial Design Review - DRC fee — the same fast path already documented in this file's commercial-building-permit entry for interior tenant improvements generally
• Billed under the same valuation-based Building Permit fee table as any other permit type (2026 Fee Schedule) — no standalone 'change of use' fee line is published; a change of use involving little or no construction valuation still pays at minimum the base Building Permit fee tier ($28.42) plus applicable plan review
• Current Gunnison County building contractor license required for all contractors on the permit, same as any other Building Permit (Town Code Sec. 18-13-40(e))
• All construction documents for commercial projects (where construction accompanies the change of use) must be prepared, signed and seal-stamped by Colorado registered or licensed design professionals (Town Code Sec. 18-13-20(a)(16))
• Certificate of occupancy required before the space may be rented, occupied, or used where the change of use involves construction (Town Code Sec. 18-13-70)

Required documents

• RequiredBuilding Permit ApplicationThe Town's single form covering all use types, including a USE TYPE field and project description used to describe the change of use; no separate change-of-use-specific application exists
• RequiredBOZAR Development Permit ApplicationRequired before submittal for a change of use with exterior scope, or automatically for one located in the B1/B2/B3 Business Districts (special review classification); may be waived via an insubstantial determination for interior-only work
• OptionalSealed commercial construction documentsRequired where the change of use is accompanied by construction work
• RequiredGunnison County Building Contractor License

Fee schedule